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Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Oct. 6: After the Nagaland government's total ban on single-use plastic in the state and in view of the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by rampant use of single-use plastic, the focus of this Durga Puja is on a 'plastic-free puja.'
As the festive sound resonates and revellers rejoice, Dimapur is going eco-friendly with focus being given on sanitation during the celebrations by shunning single-use plastic. The puja committees in Dimapur have decided on plastic-free decorations including their goddess and also for items that are used for distribution of food and water.
The PWD area puja committee in Dimapur has come up with a creative replica of the Amarnath Temple and cave. The officials told Eastern Mirror that the pandal was made of sack and bamboo and no plastic material was used on it. Even the Durga goddess was made of mud keeping in mind that it will dissolve within two-three days when immersed in water.
During the course of celebrations, the committee said around 2000 people in need will be fed from Oct. 5 to the 7
th.
This they said was possible due to freewill contributions and donations from the community. The committee had also distributed clothes to the needy. They said to have banned the use of plastic for water in the premises of the pandal to adhere with the movement for a plastic-free Nagaland.
The committee has expressed gratitude to the PWD department and the contractors’ union of Dimapur for letting their premises and office compound for the Puja celebrations.
GBs wishes peace and brotherhood
The Dimapur District GBs Association (DDGBA) greets the Hindu community with wishes for brotherhood from the Durga Puja celebrations.
‘Just as Durga Puja, which is celebrated to signify the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura, may all good things defeats and overcome all evils and may the spirit of brotherhood prevail among all communities, races and tribes,’ a note from the association on Sunday stated.
‘The DDGBA is also very much optimistic that through this festivity, not only feasting and gathering is celebrated, but peace be ushered into new era of living harmoniously between different communities and may this festival also bring prosperity and good tidings to all,’ the association stated.